Ontario Black History Society Freedom Festival - August 2014, Toronto

Emancipation Day—Freedom WordsAugust 1st, 2014, Queens Park, Room 230. 2:00-5:30pmFree Admission: Contact the OBHS to be included on the guest list: 416 867-9420 or email admin@blackhistorysociety.ca. RSVP by July 25th. Freedom Words at Queen’s Park will feature up and coming authors and performers – including Diana Braithwaite, Mutendei Akhaya Nabutete, Fiona Clarke, Annastacia Smith-Richards and Nadine Williams as well as prominent public figures, to be followed by a reception. An exhibit created by the OBHS in partnership with the Archives of Ontario will be on display. A sub-theme of this event is to mark the anniversary of Freedom Summer, or the Civil Rights movement in the U.S. as well as the passing of Maya Angelou.Fort York - Emancipation Day—Freedom MarkersAugust 4th, 2014, Fort York at 1:00 pmFree Admission: Freedom Markers - Emancipation Day/Simcoe Day at Fort York – enjoy an afternoon at this National Historic Site at this popular free outdoor event which includes speaker, marching units and a new, large Black History exhibit AND Mas Camp exhibit!!. Learn more about the role of Emancipation Day and Ontario’s First Lieutenant Governor in freedom for Black people in Ontario.Freedom Ride: OBHS Black History Bus Trip to St. Catharines.Join us for a bus tour to Black historical sites of Importance August 23rd, Meet our bus at the Kipling Subway Stn at 8:30 amCost: $60 per person. Call us and pay by visa - 416 867-9420 or mail a cheque to our office. RSVP by August 16th as space is limited. Freedom Ride – fundraising tour, with the support of York Regional Police, in honour of Freedom Summer and the rippling effects of this struggle, to St. Catharines and Niagara will retrace the history of Harriet Tubman, visit the site of the “Big Picnic”, tour museums in both St. Catharines and Niagara Falls and see the majestic natural wonder, Niagara Falls.​For more information: 416 867-9420 or facebook page or website for details! To provide swag, information or to sponsor, contact the OBHS at 416 867-9420.​

3rd Annual Scarborough Afro-Caribbean FestivalSaturday, August 23 & Sunday, August 24, 2014Albert Campbell Square, Scarborough Civic Centre (150 Borough Drive, Scarborough, ON). The festival begins at 12 P.M. and ends at 8 P.M each day. For more info: www.scarboroughafrocaribfest.comAbout Scarborough Afro-Caribbean Festival: The Scarborough Afro-Caribbean Festival was established in 2012 as a community event with the aim to celebrate the arts, cuisine, culture and heritage of the African and Caribbean community at no charge to the public. The Scarborough Afro-Caribbean Festival will offer a platform to educate and entertain festival attendees as well provide an opportunity for independent vendors and local artists to engage in self-sufficiency. This is in line with Heritage Skills Development Centre's (HSDC) mission to encourage economic development and self-sufficiency of various marginalized populations.About Heritage Skills Development Centre: HSDC is a grassroots non-profit organization that was established in 1993 with a mission to promote the health, social, cultural, and economic self-sufficiency of new immigrants, at-risk and marginalized groups in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA). For more information, please visit us at: www.hsdconline.orgFestival Sponsorship Opportunities:http://www.scarboroughafrocaribfest.com/sponsorship.htmlFestivalVendor Opportunities:http://www.scarboroughafrocaribfest.com/vendor.htmlFacebook: www.facebook.com/SACFestivalTwitter: @AfroCaribFestContact person: Madeline Nwokeji info@hsdconline.org (416) 345-1613 www.scarboroughafrocaribfest.com

AFROFESTToronto’s premier celebration of African music and cultureSaturday, July 7 and Sunday, July 8; 1pm – 10pm Woodbine Park, Coxwell and Eastern, Toronto Info: 416-469-5336. Free. All ages.Afrofest is a FREE weekend-long celebration of African culture and diversity centered on the non-stop music and dance. Afrofest features world-renowned African music acts, as well as dozens of highly-rated African musical groups based in Canada. The schedule for the free, all ages fest includes an African marketplace, food and craft vendors, and activities for kids, but of course the heart of the weekend will be the music. Among artists performing:X-Maleya (Cameroon), Soukouss Tchatcho (Congo), Ruth Mathiang (South Sudan), Cheick Khamala (Mali), Madagascar Slim (Madagascar), Amara Kante (Guinea), Asiko Afrobeat Ensemble (Nigeria), Lua Shayenne (Guinea)

NUITS D'AFRIQUE MUSIC FESTIVAL - July 8-20, 2014 - Montreal, Quebec

Since 1987, the Festival International Nuits d’Afrique has showcased the finest African, Caribbean and Afro-Latin entertainers in the music industry. Many of the greatest names in world music have played on Festival International Nuits d’Afrique stages. Moreover, Manu Dibango from Cameroon, Senegal’s Youssou N’Dour, Miriam Makeba from South Africa, Papa Wemba from Congo and Mory Kante from Guinea have all been proud ambassadors for the festival. FINA has expanded from a one-day open-air activities festival on Boulevard St. Laurent between Mont-Royal and Marie-Anne, to an 11-day cultural extravaganza dominating the arts district in downtown Montreal. More info on lineup, tickets, arts & crafts vendors etc. at www.festivalnuitsdafrique.com

2013 Montreal International Black Film Festival - September 18 to 29

The Montreal International Black Film FestivalSeptember 18 to 29, 2013www.montrealblackfilm.com | www.fondationfabiennecolas.orgThe MIBFF is a dynamic, innovative and audacious bilingual (operating in both English & French) festival whose ambition is to promote the development of the independent film industry and to showcase more films on the realities of Blacks from around the world. The festival seeks to take a fresh, new look at black cinema from the four corners of the globe! The MIBFF wants to give the public access to Canadian and foreign filmmakers and their works all year long through film screenings, debates, round tables, workshops, etc., with an eye to facilitating the exchange of ideas, broadening people’s knowledge, bringing new films to the public and helping viewers get a better understanding of these films. The Festival also wants to help filmmakers conquer new audiences. Venues:

AFRICAN FASHION WEEK TORONTO 2013 - August 15-18

African Fashion Week Toronto is a platform for existing and emerging designers inspired by African culture and design. AFWT is designed to attract, entertain, and educate an audience on African fashion industry and other related subjects. The anticipated schedule for this annual event will include: • Fabulous runway shows• Design competitions• Hands-on workshops• Informative seminars• Fanciful exhibits• Festive meet-n-greet parties AFWT will play host to local and international celebrities, presenters, top models, entertainers and most importantly existing and upcoming designers from different parts of the world.

August 17 - DAY 3 @ Japanese Canadian Cultural Center (6 Garamond Court)Saturday all-day Fashion Exhibition/Expo All Day Designer Runway Showcase. “Fashion Africa” Seminar/Conference (brought to you by http://www.africafashionguide.com/) After party (location TBD)